Hearty Poblano Beef Stew Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2024)

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The heartiest bowl of poblano beef stew!This stew is simple but loaded with oh somuch goodness. It’s warm, it’s cozy, it’sperfect for chili evenings!

Hearty Poblano Beef Stew Recipe | Little Spice Jar (1)
Big, hearty bowls of poblano beef stew need just one thing to make them extra perfect. I can’t get it off my mind!Especially when crusty bread is involved.

Nothing too fancy here, kids!

Just a warm and comforting bowl of the smokiest poblano and chipotle pepper beef stew that’ll give your regular old beef stew a run for it’s money. Just a little facelift and you know, get the family excited again about basic food again. ??????

What I want you to know is that this beef stew is loaded with the same goodness we like from a good stew recipe. It’s got the potatoes, check. And the tender chunks of beef, check. Also, the flavorful hearty broth, check. But what it also has is these deliciously smoky poblano peppers that add the heartiest depth of flavor. Also, cooking something for a couple of hours and making it taste like it’s been slow simmered all day.

Cheater meals are my favorite!

Hearty Poblano Beef Stew Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2)Hearty Poblano Beef Stew Recipe | Little Spice Jar (3)

Let’s talk ingredients.

This all starts with a 3 huge poblano peppers. It is a POBLANO beef stew, after all. We’ll need them infresh form and start by giving them a good roasting. You can do this on the stove or in the oven. Either way works. I usually use a pair of tongs and just let them roast for about 5 minutes on the stove. If you don’t have a gas stove though, this can be a little tricky.

The other option is broiling the poblano peppers in the oven. It’ll take about the same time and the flavor is the same either way. But it’s important not to skip this step because here we get a chance to add in that good old smokey flavor. Also, that skin needs to go! So we’ll char the peppers and then cover them and let them steam so the skin peels right off.

Once that’s done we’ll start on the stew.

Hearty Poblano Beef Stew Recipe | Little Spice Jar (4)Hearty Poblano Beef Stew Recipe | Little Spice Jar (5)Like any good stew recipe, you want to start this poblano beef stew by searing the meat. This allows the meat to really hold in all the juices and be tender when you bite into it. And thisreally is the difference between a meh stew, and a ?stew. You can use any type of ‘stewing meat’ for this recipe, I just usually use a beef chuck roast. A top round or a bottom round will also work. Remember, the size of the meat is also important. I used 1-inch cubes, which cooked up nice and tender in about 1-1 ½ hours. If your meat is cut into larger pieces, it’ll take a little longer to get tender.

Once you brown the meat, you want to use the same pot to sauté the onions and garlic. Please! Oh, please, whatever you do, don’t switch to a new pot! All that brown char that develops when you brown the beef is gold in this recipe. When you sweat the onions, it’ll start loosening up and coating them.

Flavor, flavor, flavor.

Hearty Poblano Beef Stew Recipe | Little Spice Jar (6)

Once you’ve got the onions and garlic sautéed off, this becomes a pretty straightforwardbeef stew recipe. I added in a chopped chipotle pepper with a couple tablespoons of adobo sauce along with the beef broth, a can of fire-roasted tomatoes, and some smoky cumin. The chipotle peppers just build more smokiness and might I add that the potatoes are totally more delicious when stewed in chipotle pepper speckled stew? This is optional though as the chipotle peppers do pack on a quite a bit of heat. If spicer food isn’t your thing, you can leave out the adobo sauce or use a little adobo and leave out the chipotle pepper. And if you prefer super spicy food, feel free to add in more chipotle peppers to your liking!

Iusually serve up poblano beef stew with lots of toasty, crusty bread. This time around the hubby requested garlic bread with the stew! Not that the stew needed additional garlic or anything. Just the way we do things round here. I used a little olive oil, and toasted the bread. When it was hot outta the oven, I gave it a good rub with a whole garlic clove, sprinkled on a little salt, and freshly chopped parsley. SO GOOD.

This is totally doable, even if you’ve never made beef stew before. Did I mention it’s the perfect weeknight or weekend dinner that’s totally satisfying and will keep you all warm and cozy?

IT WILL.

Hearty Poblano Beef Stew Recipe | Little Spice Jar (7)

Yield: 6-7 servings

Hearty Poblano Beef Stew

Prep Time5 minutes

Cook Time2 hours

Total Time2 hours 5 minutes

The heartiest bowl of poblano beef stew! This stew is simple but loaded with oh so much goodness. It's warm, it's cozy, it's perfect for chili evenings!

Hearty Poblano Beef Stew Recipe | Little Spice Jar (8)

Ingredients

  • 3 large poblano peppers
  • 1 ½ pounds beef chuck roast (cut into 1- inch cubes) (see notes)
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • 1 ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 4 cups beef or chicken broth
  • 1 chipotle pepper (plus 1-2 tablespoons adobo sauce (omit to make it less spicy)
  • 1 (15 ounce) can fire-roasted tomatoes
  • 2 medium potatoes, cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 2 -3 tablespoons chopped cilantro

Instructions

  1. POBLANOS: Char the poblano peppers over an open flame for about 5 minutes, turning as necessary to char evenly. You can also broil them under the broiler in the oven for about 5-7 minutes turning a couple times until all the sides are charred. Place the peppers in a bowl and cover the bowl with foil or plastic wrap for 10-15 minutes. You can brown the meat for the stew while you wait. When the peppers are done, use a spoon to help scrape off the charred skin. Remove the stem, seeds, and ribs and discard. Dice the chilis into 1 inch pieces, set aside until ready to use in the stew.
  2. STEW: Heat the oil in a large dutch oven or stock pot over medium high heat. Sprinkle the beef with salt and pepper and brown in batches. Do not overcrowd the pot as the meat will steam rather than sear. Remove the browned beef to a plate.
  3. Add the onions and scrape the brown bits on the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Cook the onions for 3-5 minutes or until the start to turn translucent. Add the garlic, and cook for another 30 seconds before adding in the seared beef, poblano peppers, cumin, oregano, broth, chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, and fire roasted tomatoes.
  4. Bring the stew to a boil before covering, lowering the heat, and allowing it to simmer for 1- 1 ½hours or until the beef is tender. Add the diced potatoes at this point and allow to cook for another 10-20 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked all the way through. Top with cilantro and serve with crusty bread.

Notes

  • You can use beef chuck roast//top round// bottom round for this recipe. Really, any kind of 'stewing meat' will be fine!

Have you made this recipe?

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Hearty Poblano Beef Stew Recipe | Little Spice Jar (9)

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Hearty Poblano Beef Stew Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to my beef stew to give it more flavor? ›

There are flavors in tomatoes that are alcohol-soluble, so adding red wine along with tomato paste also helps to enhance beef stew." Laurence has a few other tricks I've borrowed to create the best beef stew, including adding Worcestershire, which gets a serious umami punch from anchovies.

How do you add depth of flavor to beef stew? ›

Flemish Beef and Beer Stew (Carbonnade Flamande)

Fish sauce, soy sauce, peanut butter, anchovies, Worcestershire, maggi all add extra depth. The maggi in particular amps up the meaty umami.

What is the secret to good beef stew? ›

Using the right type of beef, searing the meat before cooking, deglazing the pan, cooking for several hours, and using plenty of salt all make a huge difference in the flavor of your beef stew.

How to spice up a can of beef stew? ›

Add Vegetables For More Flavour

Try baby marrows, diced carrots, red onions, cauliflower, and sweet potato for a hearty stew flavouring with a lot of personality. In this Beef and Red Pepper Stew we used red pepper for sweetness, but any pepper will add flavour to your stew recipe.

What not to put in a stew? ›

But the liquid itself should not be thick in the same way that gravy is thick. So skip the roux, and don't bother dusting the meat with flour or cornstarch before browning, either, as some recipes will suggest. That will just interfere with getting a good sear on the meat, and gum up the stew with unneeded starch.

How do you make stew taste richer? ›

Add the wine and tomato paste to the onions and other aromatics in a pan before slow cooking. Plus, this helps to really deglaze any fond that's left. This ingredient is one that your mum and nan would probably use in their stews. It adds a bit of tang, sweetness and savoury spices that give an extra punch of flavour.

Why does my beef stew have no flavor? ›

Not browning the beef enough would be the first possible problem. That adds a lot of flavour to the finished stew. You can toss the beef in seasoned flour before browning it which will also help thicken the stew. Not adding enough seasoning would be the second potential issue.

What does tomato paste do to beef stew? ›

We recommend using tomato paste for this recipe. Tomato paste adds crucial flavor and body to the stew meat when cooked with herbs, garlic and wine. If you don't have any on hand, try one of these tomato paste substitutes. Just keep in mind, it may change the stew's flavor.

Why add vinegar to beef stew? ›

Tough stew meat will take a couple of hours to get tender, and the vinegar helps this happen as well as add special flavor. Then add the onions, carrots, celery, Brussels sprouts etc and cook until the vegetables are the way you like them.

What happens if you forget tomato paste in beef stew? ›

How to Substitute Tomato Sauce or Puree for Tomato Paste. You don't have to dash out to the store if you're out of tomato paste; tomato sauce and tomato puree are both an excellent substitute. For every 1 tablespoon of tomato paste needed, use 3 tablespoons of tomato puree or sauce.

Can I use red wine vinegar instead of red wine in beef stew? ›

The Best Substitute for Red Wine

Alcohol-free red wine. Beef broth. Chicken broth. Red wine vinegar (use ½ vinegar and ½ water for similar flavor results)

What is the basic stew formula? ›

The Ideal Stew Ratio: Two Parts Meat, One Part Vegetable

Most meat-based stews call for tough, inexpensive cuts of meat, while vegetarian recipes include the same onions, carrots, and celery typical of a beef stew. Two parts meat to one part vegetables is the perfect ratio for a meaty stew.

How to jazz up beef stew? ›

If it tastes off-balance, add some finishing flavors to bring it to the next level. Try adding soy sauce or Worcestershire for extra savory (or umami) flavor, a touch of honey or brown sugar for sweetness, lemon zest or vinegar for brightness or chili powder or smoked paprika for spice and depth.

Do you need tomato paste in beef stew? ›

I don't find it necessary, but it does add a bit of flavor. One can of tomato paste is just right for a 5-qt. crock-pot full of beef stew, as long as you use a lot of beef and vegetables.

What are the best spices for beef? ›

Spices Inc., an organization devoted to promoting the use and sale of spices, has a broad list of its favorite flavorings for beef: basil, bay, black pepper, cayenne, cumin, curry powder, dry mustard powder, garlic, onion, oregano, rosemary, sage, and thyme.

How do you fix tasteless beef stew? ›

Add plenty of pepper and some salt and it should taste better. Using beef stock or red wine is better than water for the liquid. Use just enough to cover the meat and vegetables. It's better to use less liquid if possible so you don't end up having to thicken the stew later with corn starch or similar.

What ingredient and taste that you would add to enhance the flavor of a bland stew without adding more salt? ›

Things like cinnamon, turmeric, curry powders, fresh ground peppercorns, sage, tarragon and dill can all pick up where you left the salt out. Allow yourself some discovery. Without the added sodium, herbs and spices can offer a different depth of flavor especially if you grind them up yourself.

How do you brighten up beef stew? ›

Fresh Lime Juice. Speaking of flavor, it's amazing what a spritz of fresh lime juice can to do brighten up your stew. Squeeze a little drizzle into the stew at the end of cooking, stir and swoon.

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